THE FEDERAL CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 74, 29 March 1899, Page 2

THE FEDERAL CRISIS.

(By Electric Telegraph.) (Press Association— Copyright.)

THE DEADLOCK CONTINUES.

SYDNEY, this day

Both Houses met in conference on the Feccral Bill yesterday, and sat very late. Upon returning to the Assembly Mr Reid reported that he had failed to arrive at a settlement. In moving- the adoption of the report, he said the efforts of the representatives of the people having failed to bring about a settlement the Government did not propose to allow the temporary success of a certain number of gentlemen in another place to lead to the destruction of the national movement for federation. He might be told an easier way ot settling the difficulty would be to advise a general election, but there were other methods open to the advisers of the Crown to bring about a solution. In response to calls at the close of his speech, Mr Eeid said the Assembly managers had offered to eliminate the preamble of the Bill, give way upon the three months' interval prior to the referendum, and extend the time of voting, for several days, but the Council insisted on all its amendments. Jrlr Eeid asked the House to sit to-ciay, so that both Houses could deal with the Advances to Settlers" Bill before any further phase of the federation difficulty was entered upon.

Mr Jleid, continuing-, said he was not going to ask members to throw the country into confusion. If he had any power at all it should result, not in the punishment of the representatives of the people, but would fait on those who stand against them.

Mr Barton strongly supported Mr Eeid, and said if the Government decided to overcome the difficulty by making: further appointments to the Council lie would support it. If the worst came to the worst and they had to go to the people they would solemnly and promptly endorse the Assembly's action. The House adopted the report of the Conference.

A Cabinet meeting will be. held tqday, at which the Government programme will be decided. It is ci* pected that after the Advances to Settlers Bill is deajt with Parliament will immediately be prorogued, probably for about a fortnight. The general opinion is that the Government will recommend further appointments to the Legislative Council. There are now thirteen vacancies, and probably about twenty appointments will be made. ' :

The 'Sydney Morning Herald' raises the question whether the Lieut.-Gover-nor will conceive it his duty to make the number of fresh appointments to the Council recommended by the Government after the Glasgow precedent in New Zealand, and doubts if he will take such an extreme course. Mr Reid would then be compelled to surrender Ministerial responsibilities, but the 'Herald' regards the return of a Federal administration certain. The 'Herald' supports Mr Eeid, and says he could not have gone back on his pledges to the other Premiers without incurringl universal censure.

The 'Daily Telegraph' says an attempt is being made to victimise the Legislative Council under circumstances which it could not ignore without proving recreant to every obligation imposed upon it by the constitution of which it forms an essential part. If members of the Assembly object to a penal dissolution, they should not support a course of executives action which would otherwise have the effect of robbing the electors of their supreme constitutional rights.